Josh Dugan’s agonised ride up the tunnel capped off an horrendous Charity Shield for St George Illawarra, who now appear certain to be without their No.1 strike weapon for the start of the premiership.

The Dragons were already in tatters on the scoreboard when Dugan was carried from the field midway through last night’s second half, after his left knee came off second best in a sickening clash with the head of Rabbitohs giant George Burgess.

The collision occurred as Burgess torpedoed across the score South Sydney’s seventh and final try of the 38-20 thumping, which also left a slight question mark over the health of opposite number Greg Inglis, who left the field following a head clash just after the break.

News_Image_File: Dragon's Ben Creagh and team mates after South Sydney score a try during the Charity Shield.

Dugan was unable to regain his feet and needed two trainers to carry him to the dressing rooms at the opposite end of WIN Stadium, where initial checks suggested a medial strain that would sideline him for between four and six weeks.

Scans will confirm the damage tomorrow, while Inglis - who was thoroughly vetted for facial injuries on the sideline - will also have follow-up tests. Missing starting halves Adam Reynolds (shoulder) and Luke Keary (pectoral), Souths could also lose makeshift pivot Dylan Walker, who left WIN Stadium in a moon boot after injuring his ankle early in the second stanza.

News_Image_File: Lote Tuqiri scores a try for Souths during the Charity Shield.

“It’s always disappointing when you see high profile players go down but that’s the game we play and it’s just the way it is,” he said

Dugan’s departure literally added injury to the insult St George Illawarra served up to their home crowd, which was silenced well before halftime as South Sydney ruthlessly exposed just how much the Dragons improve to be considered a premiership force.

While side-to-side movement once again made St George Illawarra’s attack predictable and pedestrian, the Rabbitohs produced a clinic of direct power running and support play to blow their rivals to bits while the game resembled a genuine contest.

Ahead 22-4 at halftime, Souths were set to comfortably eclipse the biggest victory in the Charity Shield’s 30-year history when Burgess steam rolled over to stretch the margin to 34 points with 23 minutes left.

But with Inglis and Walker sidelined, Rabbitohs coach Michael Maguire rolled out the cotton wool to give St George Illawarra the hollow comfort of three unanswered tries over the final quarter.

Price, however, drew minimal consolation from the late flurry after his side failed to compete in every department in the first hour. Skipper Ben Creagh was more to the point, accusing his men of a lack of commitment in what has traditionally been a blood and thunder dress rehearsal.

“I don’t think we were committed enough to start the game. That won’t be good enough to start the season.

“There’s got to be better commitment from players across the side.”

A stench of inevitability and deja vu hung over the outcome after St George Illawarra failed to address persistent concerns over their attack in the opening six minutes, which saw the Rabbitohs successfully repel four straight sets on their line.

Their impotency was immediately punished when Souths scored on their first possession. The giant Rabbitohs pack rolled past halfway with ease before Beau Champion finished a bizarre movement featuring kicks from John Sutton and the unlikely boot of Sam Burgess.

The rot really set in when Dylan Farrell sent the kick-off dead, the first of a string of fundamental errors that could hardly be attributed to February rust. Brett Morris spilled the ball with the line open before another attacking chance was reduced to dust thanks to the dummy half being absent from the ruck.

Bryson Goodwin, Joe Picker and Lote Tuqiri all scored to effectively seal the win inside the first 40 minutes, during which Sutton brilliantly shifted back to playmaking duties after training all summer for a switch to lock.

Hard-running back rower Lesson Ah Mau was St George Illawarra’s stand-out performer, while five eighth recruit Gareth Widdop at least showed a willingness to run to the line and commit defenders.

News_Rich_Media: Paul Kent and Ben Ikin from NRL 360 give their verdict on the St George Illawarra Dragons' chances in 2014.

Sutton’s classy pass set up a try to another recruit, former Canberra forward Joe Picker, with Goodwin landing his third conversion from four attempts to set up a 22-4 halftime lead. The Rabbitohs crossed three more time after the break before the Dragons’ late revival.